Sat Sep 07 23:35:15 UTC 2024: ## UBC Okanagan Alumna Brings Home Paralympic Bronze
**Kelowna, BC** – Former UBC Okanagan volleyball player Jenn Oakes has made history, becoming the first UBCO athlete to medal in either the Olympics or Paralympics. Oakes and Team Canada clinched bronze in the women’s sitting volleyball competition at the 2024 Paralympic Games, defeating Brazil in a thrilling 3-0 victory. This victory is particularly significant, marking Canada’s first-ever medal in the sport.
The bronze medal marks a culmination of years of dedication for Oakes and her team. The team, which includes a core group who have been training together for over nine years, has seen a steady rise in performance. After placing seventh in 2016 and fourth in 2020, their hard work has finally paid off on the world stage.
“We finally did it,” said Team Canada head coach Nicole Ban. “We showed up in our third Paralympic Games, our second bronze medal match and we did it. We won. I couldn’t be prouder of the athletes today, but really for the growth that we’ve had over the nine and a half years that I’ve been with the program.”
Oakes played for the UBC Okanagan Heat for two seasons, from 2016-17 to ’17-18, and her coach Steve Manuel expressed immense pride in her accomplishment. “This medal is the culmination of eight to nine years of hard work for her and her teammates,” Manuel said. “When she started, Canada was not yet in the conversation on the world stage. But now they are a powerhouse in the world of sitting volleyball and Jenn is a huge part of that success.”
Oakes’ bronze medal is a testament to her hard work and dedication, and a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes across Canada.
First Piper 